Gyro-compass.



UNITED TsT TEs PATENT OFFICE.-

am Usenet), or 31, 51.; GERMANY,

GYno-coMrAss. I

To all whom it may concern 1' Be it known that I, HANS USENER, of Kiel, Kingdom of Prussia,1 Ger ma-n Emplre, a subject of the King of Prussia, and whose post-ofilce address is 62 Holtenauerstrasse, Kiel, Kingdom of PrusslafgGerman Emplre, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Gyro-Compasses, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to meridional gyroscopes'or gyrocompasses- It is known that gyrocfmpasses, i. e. a

gyroscope-wheel mounted in a ring which is pivoted in an horizontal ax s at right angles tothe axis of the wheel, afre merldlonal 1f the center of the suspension is located above the center of gravity. By the word meridional is meant that theselgyroscopes have the tendency of makingthe axle of the gyroscope. coincide with the meridian. It is known, moreover, that if there is no friction the axle of the gyroscopeoscillates around the meridian and describesan'ellipse, similar to a spherical pendulum oscillating around its axle. .7 The object of the present invention 1s to provide means to: alter these undamped oscillations in such a manner that there results 'a damped oscillation. For this purpose the outer ring of the usual cardanic suspension of the gyroscope is not freely movable 1n relation to the casing of the compass but is connected yieldingly with "the casing so that each angular displacement of the system,

viz. the gyroscope with the two cardanicrings" produces a moment about the vertical axle of the casing, which moment has the tendency to compensate for the said displacement The amountand the direction of the moment (turning couple) depends upon the amount of the angular-displacenient, and the casing is made rotatable so that it is capable of following the gyroscopical system with a velocity which increases and diminishes according to the amount of the displacement. The" means for obtaining this object-consist preferably in torsion springs connecting the cardanic suspension with the casing.

The casing is supported by a stationary frame and can be displaced relatively to this frame by means of a motor forinstance by a two or three-phase motor. Now in order suspension is made to increase in its amount and direction with the elastic-displacement.

It is preferred to interpose a transformer with a movable core between the outer and movement of the casing is increased or re 'duced.

The invention is illustrated in the draw- 1ng.-

Figure 1 showing the gyroscope and the cardanio suspension with the torsional con-- nection to the case Fig. 2 showing the type of transformer employed.

Referring to Fig. 1 the gyroscope system comprises as usual the gyroscope wheel K, the inner ring R and the outer ring R of the cardanic suspension. The motor for driving the wheel is not shown in the draw- .ing. The inner ring R 'is provided with two weights P P by which the center of gravity is located below the center of the cardanic suspension. The ring R has therefore the tendency to remain in horizontal Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 20, 1915. Application filed December 9, 1912. Serial No. 735,667. K

position as its center of gravity is by weights P P maintained below its axis of rotation. If the ring is displaced from its horizontal position by arotation on its pivots'(elevation of the axis of the gyroscope) a moment is tion opposing it. The casing is illustrated structure N which may be rigidly connected with the ship. The form of the casing may be such that it covers-and protects the inner parts of the instrument.

As stated before the system is not simply pivotally suspended in the frame but is connected in such a manner that an angular displacement of both parts produces a torsion moment about the vertical axis.

On the drawings the elastic suspension is illustrated by the torsional springs F F An" arm H (Fig. 2) is connected to the ring R This arm carries themovable core A of a transformer; the other parts of the transformer being attached to the frame and rigidly connected therewith. The winding on the left-hand (W') is the primary winding,'-and the windings on the right-hand (W W connected in series are the secondary windings. If the core is in asymproduced'which is proportional to. the elevametrical position there is no inductive action, but this inductive action increases as the-core is displaced from its middle posi-' tion; the inductiveaction being of assisting or opposing sense according as the core is displaced to one side or the other. If the yielding displacement of the ring in relationto the casing is zero the core assumes its symmetrical position. Thus if A is in the middle position no current is generated in the opposing coils W 'and W but if A covers only the core of W or if it covers more of the core W than of the core W the action of W will be stronger than the oposed action of W The primary windings 0 of the transformers mayconnect with the motor M by the conductors 3 and Z, and

thesecondary windings W and W in series connect through the conductors 4 and 8.

To produce the movement of the casing relatively to the frame a two-phase motor M is provided, the winding of one phase being always excited by the electric current 'of the ro-wheel motor through the conductors 1 ed to the circuit of the induced part of the transformer relay by the conductors 3 and 4. The motor M is connected to drive the frame (G G") 'by gear wheels 5- and 6 mounted on said frame and the armature shaft of the motor, respectively. Under these conditions the motor and, therefore, the casing driven thereby will rotate in relation' to the frame with a velocity which is proportional in direction and amount to the displacement of the outerring relatively to the casing.

' In order to increase or to reduce the action of the motor it is preferred to locate a second device of similar construction as the first between the outer ring R and the inner R This device is actuated by the elevation in such a manner that the current produced is proportional in amount and d1- i rection to the elevation. This second current through the conductors 7 and 8 may ex- I cite a second winding ofthe second phase of'the motor; the current of the second device increasing or reducing the action of the current of the first device.

' The manner of operating may be illustrated in connection with a ship at rest.

Suppose the gyroscope compass to indicate initially an eastern direction now if the gyroscope wheel is started by the action of the current, the north-pole of the axis of the pole of the horizon.

gyroscope will slowly approach the north- At' the same time there is an elevation by which the movement to the north-pole is accelerated. At this time the elastic displacement'of the ring R turned by the axis of the gyroscope against the casing is produced. Therefore the two-phase motor is started in such --a sense that the casing follows the movement I would act in the same sense.' and 2 and the other winding being connect- 4 of the system, the secpnd transformer relay delays this movement on. account of the elevation; This condition is stationary, z. a. casing and system are rotating with approximately equal velocity and approximately equal angular displacement. movement is damped as it now'dep'ends only upon the dimension of the two transformers The Y the motors and so on to effect the resulting.

be accelerated by the elevation; the tendency being to compensate for the displacement. In this casethe first and second transformer What I do claim as my invention, and de-' elevation of the gyroscope wheel, said regulating device including two coils and means whereby the'influence of one circuit is increased and that of the otherdecreased with shifting of said cardanic suspension.

2. In a meridional gyroscope-compass the combination with a gyroscope wheel, of a cardanicsuspension for said wheel,-a rota- .90 sire to'secure by Letters Patent of-the United v table casing connected by a torsional sprmg with the suspension, a motor for turning the casing relatively to said suspension and a regulating device for saidmotor controlled by the elevation of the gyroscope wheel, said regulating device including two coils and means whereby the influence of one circuit is increased and that of the other decreased with shifting of said cardanicsuspension'.

3. In a meridional gyroscope-compass the combination with a gyroscope wheel, of a cardanic suspension for said wheel, a rotatable casing yieldingly connected with the suspension, a motor for turning the casing in the same direction as the suspension and a regulating device for said motor controlled bv the elevation of the gyroscope wheel, said regulating device including two coils and means whereby the influence ofone circuit is increased and that of the other 7 decreased with shifting of said cardanic suspension. a I 4. In a meridional gyroscope-compass the combination with a gyrosco e wheel, of a cardanic suspension for'sai wheel, a torsional spring a rotatable casing connected by saidtorsional springv with the suspension, a motor for turning the casing in the same direction as the suspension and a regulating device for said motor controlled by the elevation of the gyroscope wheel, said regulating device including two coils and means whereby the influence of one circuit is increased andthat of the other decreased with shifting of said cardanic suspension.

5. In a meridional gyroscope-compass the combination with a gyroscope wheel, of a cardanic suspension for said wheel,- a rotatable casing yieldingly connected with the suspension, a motor connected to turn the casmg; and regulating transformers associated with said motor, one of said transformers disposed between the casing and the suspension, and the other of said transformers disposed between the elements of .said suspension; said transformers being controlled. through the movements ofthe cardanic suspens on.

6. In a meridional gyroscope-compass the combination with a gyroscope wheel, of a cardanic suspension for said wheel, a rotatable casing yieldingly connected with the suspension, a motor connected to turn the casing; and regulating transformers associated with said motor, one of said transformers located between the cardanic suspension and the casing and comprising a core and two inducing windings mounted on said cardanic suspension and casing respectively; and the other of said transformers located between the elements of the cardanic suspension and comprising a core and two inducing windings mounted on said elements respectively; said transformers being controlled through the movements of the cardanic suspension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

S "USENER.

Witnesses: v

JoHANNA STERN, Rronano LENY, 

